CSIRO and Australian incubator CUREator boost health security innovation
July 5, 2022
$3m additional funding provided by CSIRO to CUREator, Australia’s national biotech incubator, to boost home-grown health security discoveries, taking total incubation capital to $43m
Australian biotech incubator CUREator will receive $3m in funding from Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, to support Australia’s health security and protect against emerging infectious diseases and pandemics. CSIRO scientists will also collaborate with the innovators and emerging companies through CUREator, to support them as new ideas develop to address threats to human health.
The CSIRO funding allows CUREator to launch a new and unique health security stream which will give promising projects up to $1m over three years across fields including emerging infectious diseases and pandemics research, and therapies targeting chemical, biological and radiological threats.
CUREator was established in 2021 with $40m funding from the Federal Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) to support the development of promising discoveries. It is managed by Brandon BioCatalyst, the life science investment collaboration. $43m is now available through CUREator.
Dr Chris Nave, CEO of Brandon BioCatalyst, said the partnership with CSIRO demonstrated strong support for translating innovation to action.
“With CUREator our aim is to increase the capital and expertise available to progress more of our brilliant research discoveries for the laboratory to the clinic, and ultimately into life-saving new therapies. The CSIRO funding will be specifically focussed on technologies that have the potential to protect Australians from future pandemics and health threats,” Dr Nave said. “CSIRO has a long and successful track record of using science to create solutions for challenges and opportunities facing our country; so this funding directed toward national health security projects is a natural extension of these endeavours.”
Anita van der Meer, executive manager at CSIRO said the national science agency was supporting the opportunity to develop new health security capability and technology.
“CSIRO brings an incredible wealth of capability in pandemic preparedness, biomedical research, vaccine development and biomanufacturing. CUREator will play an important role bridging the gap between where research funding ends and seed funding begins, and CSIRO is pleased to support home-grown health security discoveries,” Ms van der Meer said.
The program is open to all Australian researchers developing preclinical biomedical assets. Proposals will be sought from July 2022 and under the terms of the partnership. Once the round opens, applications may be submitted via the online portal at https://brandonbiocatalyst.com/cureator/.
ENDS
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About CUREator
Delivered by Brandon BioCatalyst, CUREator is backed by the Australian Federal Government’s Medical Research Future Fund. The MRFF’s $80 million Early Stage Translation and Commercialisation Support Grant (ESTAC) aims to assist businesses to develop projects that support medical innovation in Australia through to proof-of-concept and beyond, providing opportunities for commercialisation. CUREator is responsible for managing $40m of this fund, dedicated to supporting commercialisation of both preclinical medical innovations and early clinical development of therapeutics.
For more information about CUREator visit: https://brandonbiocatalyst.com/cureator/
About Brandon BioCatalyst and Brandon Capital
Brandon Capital is Australasia’s leading life science venture capital firm, with a strong global presence supported by key partnerships and team members across the US and UK. From early-stage seed investment through to expansion capital, Brandon Capital supports life science companies from proof-of-concept through to commercialisation.
Managed by Brandon Capital, Brandon BioCatalyst is a unique collaboration of over 50 leading medical research institutes, investors, and government united by a single purpose: progressing the next generation of medical therapies and technology which improve health and save lives.
www.brandoncapital.vc | www.brandonbiocatalyst.com
About the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)
The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) is a research fund set up by the Australian Government in 2015. In July 2020, it grew to $20 billion. The net interest from the fund pays for important health and medical research projects.
For more information on the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) visit: https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/medical-research-future-fund/about-the-mrff
About Australia’s National Science Agency, CSIRO
CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency is one of the world’s largest mission-driven multidisciplinary science and research organisations. They work with industry, governments and the research community to turn science into solutions that address Australia’s greatest challenges, including food security and quality; clean energy and resources; health and wellbeing; resilient and valuable environments; innovative industries; and a secure Australia and region.
For more information about CSIRO visit: https://www.csiro.au/
